Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy feeling better, but still out of starting lineup with back spasms

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

NEW YORK – Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (back spasms) missed his second straight game Monday afternoon and is considered day-to-day, but the club's Gold Glove shortstop said he was feeling better after his first round of treatment.

“It's still a little bit tight, but it's definitely getting better,” Hardy said. “We'll see. I'm basically through my first round of treatments [Monday]. I'll probably do the same thing again and go from there.”

Hardy did not participate in pregame batting practice or fielding drills and was not available for the Orioles' 4-2 loss to the Yankees on Monday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Orioles manager Buck Showalter had the opportunity to pinch-hit Hardy later in the game, but did not.

“If we had all our things available to us, we might approach that situation differently,” Showalter said. “I can still play Chris [Davis] at third base and put [Steve] Pearce at first or [Nick] Markakis at first or [Steve] Clevenger at first. I still have some options in the infield, but I'm not going to do it before the ninth inning.”

Before Monday's game, Showalter said there were no plans for Hardy to get any tests on his back.

“It hasn't been expressed to me yet,” Showalter said.

Hardy, who has missed three of the past four games with back spasms, said the injury has been especially frustrating because he had been healthy all spring.

“It was probably the healthiest spring training I've had yet with everything feeling good and then this came out of nowhere,” he said.

Showalter acknowledged that there is some concern because Hardy has played through injuries in the past.

“I think because of the history and knowing J.J. [and] some of the stuff he played through last year, but not to this level,” Showalter said. “We just want it resolved now. Lot of guys have stuff that they play with that we don't make note of but this one just hampers him.

“I guess he counts ground balls, it was his 21st ground ball, just kind of locked up on him,” Showalter said. “He's better today than he was yesterday. So, we will see what the game brings; see what he feels like by game time if he's available.”

Also of note:

-- Left-hander Johan Santana will pitch in a two-inning simulated game today in which he pitches an inning, sits down and then goes out and pitches again.

-- Nolan Reimold is not doing baseball activities in Sarasota, Fla., Showalter said, only getting treatment for his neck. That’s peculiar because when the Orioles placed him on the 15-day disabled list to start the season, it seemed like he just needed to get more time playing in games so his neck could get adjusted to the rigors of playing the outfield.

-- Right-hander Dylan Bundy is scheduled to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session today off a full mound. He will throw all fastballs. The next step would be incorporating changeups and breaking balls.

-- Showalter said third baseman Manny Machado had a “step up” day today in his rehab from left knee surgery.

-- Outfielder Francisco Peguero will start baseball activities and a hitting progression today after getting the cast off his right wrist.